Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Chapter 186

"Today we’re going to be learning the sigils for higher-level charms, these are more practical than more common charms. They can be used for repair, cleaning, even minor illusions..."

Dulce listened intently to Miss Moira’s enthusiastic teaching. He had visited a shop a handful of times now over the past weeks and had made surprising progress even though he came for classes roughly once a week.

At the rate he was learning to read and write sigils, he had begun to get hopeful that he would make it in time for the spring enrollment.

They were seated in the living area of Moira’s shop, next to the fireplace with purple flames, the strange light reflecting off their studious faces.

It was already the end of autumn, it grew colder and colder by the day, the last of the leaves falling off trees. Soon, the first snow would fall to herald the start of winter.

-+-

Drevalis was difficult to infiltrate, as useful as the ability to warp places was, one could only do it if they knew exactly where they were going. So after they succeeded in sneaking in once after several tries, going in and out of the city was done with ease.

The first of the burning stables in Drevalis sparked unease. Prepared for this, Grand Duke Kozran immediately rallied his army to launch an attack.

He was aware of the hounds’ cowardly method of battle, launching sneak attacks within the city without ever directly attacking. Even while knowing that Ibaeron’s and Lyvenor’s armies had perished in the Deep Woods, Grand Duke Kozran led his army there.

It was a simple matter, Morkoth and Dazark had simply been too weak so they were defeated. It made the hounds grow bold, daring to infiltrate his city in the cover of the night to raid one of the stables in the outer city.

Kozran had blazing red eyes, which didn’t help his ferocious features. Although there were hound steeds in Drevalis, he had no interest in capturing more. The goal of his expedition to the Deep Woods was to completely wipe out the race of Demons for daring to revolt.

This led to a very grim battle, heralding the deaths of more Hellhounds than all the other battles combined. As the battle drew to an end all that was left was Prince Caedos and Grand Duke Kozran.

They stood in the center of charred earth, bodies piled on its perimeter, of both Hellhounds and Fiends, although red-hued skin was more prominent.

Kozran stood proudly, the Grand Duke didn’t even bother to wipe the blood from the gash over his brows, letting the blood run into his eyes, dyeing the whites of his eyes red.

Across from him, Caedos was down on one knee, in an even worse state than when he fought Grand Duke Morkoth. He was drenched in blood until it changed the color of his hair, despite his sorry state, his hazel eyes didn’t lose their fire.

Kozran sneered, grudging respect in his blazing eyes. Most of the royal dog’s men were cowardly, using traps to fell his men, but the last Royal Hound had put up a proper fight.

He lifted his halberd, feeling more blood flow out of the hole in his abdomen. The injury had been charred, delaying healing but it didn’t seem to even slow him down.

"It is an honor to die by my hand, royal dog." Kozran said conversationally, taking a step forward.

The ground underneath them had once been covered by trees, vines, and greenery, but now it was aflame. There was nothing left to burn but the fire seemed unquenchable, burning endlessly, causing fine cracks in the ground.

Kozran was much better off, his crown remained on his hair, faint streaks of blood in his blond hair. Save for the gnarly injury in his midsection and the gash over his forehead, he seemed completely unharmed.

"I may even humor you and display your head in my throne room," Kozran kept speaking, closing the distance slowly.

The raucous noise of battle had dimmed, only the sound of the dying could be heard now, over the constant flames that refused to die out.

Caedos sank his claws into the burning earth, unharmed by the fire. He could no longer shift, completely wrung of strength. The axe of Kozran’s golden halberd drew closer and closer to his neck, it wasn’t the first time.

All Caedos could smell in that moment was blood and smoke, there wasn’t a Hellhound alive for miles but he refused to die, reluctant. For his people, despite their claims, they would thrive after his death as long as they wanted to... However, he made a promise. He simply couldn’t die before he fulfilled it.

Kozran had completely closed the distance now, he grabbed the Hellhound’s ears in a fist like one would a disobedient dog, axe pressed to the royal dog’s bloody neck.

Caedos was forced to lift his head; fire boiled in his throat, scalding his tongue from the heat, but his expression didn’t change. He looked into Kozran’s feverish eyes, feeling the Fiend’s weapon reopen a slowly healing cut on his neck.

The Fiend was really resilient, even though he was about to spit a mouthful of fire on his face, Caedos braced himself to continue the fight, knowing that even his fire would only be an inconvenience to the Grand Duke.

The first time he had spat out fire in human form had been at the first-ever stable he had set aflame, and ever since then, he hadn’t managed to do it again. It was incredibly difficult without shifting, and without knowing, he had perfectly done it the first time from sheer rage alone.

This time, there was no anger. Grand Duke Kozran was incredibly powerful, even without his army, they might have stood no chance in defeating the Fiend alone.

Caedos wasn’t angry, but he was dissatisfied. He had promised to return to Dulce and he would do so even if he had to crawl out of the Hells to get to him.